Folding utility cart



0st. 114, 11952 P. RUSNAK 2,613,951

FOLDING UTILITY CART Filed July 10, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l 5 22 I l 7 s1 INVENTOR PAUL RUSNAK rmq ATTORNEYS Get 14, 11952 RUSNAK 2,613,951

FOLDING UTILITY CART Filed July 10 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR PAUL RUSNAK ATTORNEYS Oct. 14, 1952 RUSNAK 2,613,951

FOLDING UTILITY CART Filed July 10, 1,950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. H

FIG. l2.

INVENTOR PAUL RUSNAK BY MM ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 1 4, 1952 STATES PATENT FOLDINGUTILITY CART Paul Rusnak, LosAii'gelea'Calii'. Application July 10, 1950, Serial No. 172,947

f 1 My invention has to do with utility carts and relates more particularly to a folding cart utilizing, as a unitary part thereof, a basket-for carrying any desired object or objects.

It is an object of the invention to provide a utility cart which is economical of manufacture, efiicient in use an which may beeasily folded or collapsed, easily unfolded or set up, andswhich may be nested when in folded position.

Another object is to provide a cart of this sort which is characterize by its substantial durability.

A further object is to provide autility cart which, when not in use, occupies aminimum of space but which, when in use, provides maximum space for receiving articles to be transported. Other objects willappear asythe following description of presently preferred embodiments of .theinvention proceeds, for. the purposes of which description I shall.now;refer to the accompanying drawings, wherein:- l

vFig.1 is a side elevation of mycart in set-up position ready foruse; i i Fig. 2 is a side elevation of being folded; I,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the cart in folded position and illustrating how a plurality of carts may be nested; i Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation of the device in the position of Fig. 1;

.: Fig. 5 is a'top plan view ofthe-device'v as shown in Fig. 1;

, Fig.6 is a section taken on line 6--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a top plan view taken on line 'il of Fig.2;

a cart in course of Fig. 8.,isasection. taken on line 8- -8 of Fig. 2;

- Fig...9 isan. enlarged section taken on line .9.9 of .Fig- :1;

101s .an enlarged section'takenonline Hie-l of Fig.1;

. Fig. 12isa fragmentary side elevation showing :amodified form of my invention; and l 13 is a section taken on'line l3-l3 of thosemembers; adjacent their bottom ends, I

fix -a U-shaped base frame '1 whose free end "portions la extend downwardly. Casters 8 are rotatably mounted in the lower ends of the'frame members and 1a. The side'portions of thebase frame I diverge toward their right or rearends to 'pe'rmit'of-nesting of several carts as willbe hereinafter described.

described are preferably 14 Claims. (01'. 280-36) Fig. 11.is. a fragmentary view takenxion line the U-shaped base frame is secured to themembers 5 by means of a sleeve l5 disposed axially of the cross-portion lb and by screws I6 which extend through themembers 5 and. are threaded into the respective ends of the sleeves (see Fig.

A pair of brace members 20 are fixedat their respective ends to the frame members 5 and 1 by screws 2! and 22-.

i A rectangular frame 25 is pivotally mounted between members 5 intermediate the ends of the latter by means of pintle 21 into which screws 2! are threaded at their inner ends so that the frame may swing relative to members 5. This frame forms the bottom frame of a basket 39 and carries longitudinal grill bars 3| providing a floor. A rectangular top frame of the basket is pivotally supported from the bottom frame 25 by links 37, each of which is pivotally connected at its respective ends to brackets 38, 39 carried by the top and bottom frames respectively. 1

A guide bar 40 is suspended from and extends parallel with frame 35, there being one of these bars ateach side of the frame. Thesuspension of each of the guide bars is effected by means of brackets 42, 43. A cross-bar 44 is connected at its. ends to the topends .of the frame members 5 by means of screws'45. (Fig. 10.) This crossbar slides along the. guide bar during the folding and unfolding operation to be described,

there being guide rings or washers 47 mounted on the cross-bar at each side ,of each guide bar Slide grills 50, 5| are swingably suspended from brackets 38. so as to swing between the up right position of Fig. 1 and the horizontal position which they assume when thebasket is fully folded. (Fig. 3.) a v Rear end grill 54 is swingably suspended from .the cross-bar 44 by loops 44a, to swing upwardly and downwardly, and front end grill 55 is swingably suspended from brackets 56 carried by the front end portion of frame 35.

The rear end grill 54 is resiliently connected to the side grills 5i 5! by means of coil springs 57, for the purposes to be described. H

The significance and functions of the described parts will become more apparent from the following description of operation:

said grill and thus using the cross-bar Mas a Cfulcrum. By: swinging the rear end grill-into substantially upright position,-the springs 51 par- 3 sufiiciently to start them in their basket folding position, and continued downward pressure on the top frame 35 causes the links 31 to swing rearwardlymanddownwardly ,while ...the ..bottom edge of 'fthezifront grill slides z'along the bottom grill 3| of the basket until the parts are in the fully folded position of Fig. 7. The parts are shown in intermediate position in Fig. 2. In folded position, several carts may bernested'tas shown in Fig. 3 since the side members of the U-shaped base members 1 divergetowarcr their rear ends.

To open or set up the basket from this folded position it is only necessary to lift the"'fro'nt portion of the top frame 35, which swings the top .frame and the :links: 3 .I vback intotth'e ipo'sition of .1,;.permit'ting .theigrills to 1 swing: downwardly; into the substantially aupright iwposition shown'in :Fig... lzby virtue; of. their own -;weight.

bridge; 12 :and.13 I show a modified form of cart wherein the parts are as before described except that here I provide aseat: and back rest for: seating. an: infant while the cart ds. in;;use. Here the rear grill 54a is pivotedaat llc-to aecross .bar b; secured at: its ends: .to 'frameizmembers :tia .by-tscrews'. 6 l. .ata: point: forwardly of the'rear .end,-..and.a solidz'sheet ofixnateriahfil is; carried .by the rear endtgrill' 54a to. swing therewith,: and .ta'form abackrest. 'filsoza. seat .is provided'sby assolid sheet 63zattached1t0 the floor3l. :-:The rearrcross-rbar 44- .is .=pivotally secured'to" frame :members 'i-byr screws r 45a; the cross-bar. sliding run the guidezbaridlia. Ehe side grills are denoted 58a, 51a; respectively-,1: and .the. real end; grill: is resiliently connected 1 to .the :side grills -by coil springs-51a :preferahly sheathed in rubber:.atub ing. The bottom frame carrying theJfioongrfll is .:denoted; 25a.

:I claim:

."LiA utility.cart.comprising mobile side frame :members, a substantially horizontal floor [pivotal- -ly.secured intermediateits ends to the 'sideiframe members, x a substantially: horizontal top: frame swingably. supported above and. from the: floor to-swing relative" thereto, means slideably' connecting 1 the upper .end' portions of the-side frame members to the' top' frame including; a: guideway carried :byand: disposed parallel= with :said' top frame members and a cross bar carried by said 'sideframe members for sliding movementialong 'guideway carried by and disposed parallel with said top frame members and a cross bar carried by said side frame members'for sliding move- "ment'along said slideway, and side and end walls swingably suspended from the top frame, one of said end walls and both of the'side walls being movable relative to each other. and relative to the floor in response to swinging movement .of the: top frame relativev to'thefloor.

. 3.,'A'utility cartcomprising mobile 'sideframe members, a substantially horizontal floor pivotal- .rly. secured intermediate its ends to the side frame members, a. substantially"horizontal top frame swingably supported :above and: from theJx-floor "diagonally upwardly disposed side bars, a U- shaped base ban-secured at its closed end to the to swing. relative .thereto meansuslideablyrcon- :15

side bars, wheels mounted on the bottom ends of'theside bars and on the base frame, a normally substantially horizontally disposed floor .pivotedbetween its endstoitherside .bars between the ends oft..the latter 'wherebyito beswingable 'in'tozpo'sition substantially:paralleliwith saidf-bars, a substantially horizontallyidisposedi top: frame slideably': connectedz'adjacent. one of its: endsto the. upper-end: portions :of theside b'arsr'. rigid linksz-supporting the topfframe' from andabove .theifloor andspivotally;connectedat their, respective ends to/the. topframe and' floor wherebyto permit the"top frame" to swingzrelativeltoi the floor 'into' position substantially. parallel .withvthe side bars, and side and end walls swingably.suspended from. the. top frame.

: 5.;-A:.utility I cart comprising; a pairsofi parallel :diasonally :upwardly :disposed side rbars, a. .u-shapedcbase bar secured at its olosedi end: to .the side bars, 'wheels' mountedon .the;.bottom .ends ,of' theside bars and onthe ibase: frame-a. normally. substantially, horizontally. disposed .iloor pivoted between its: ends to. the sidebars between the ends of the: latter .wherebyfltol be'swingable into-position substantiallyparallel :with. said' bars, a substantially horizontallycdisposed' top frame slideably connected-adjacent onezofz itsiends' to the upper end portions of the sid'e;bars,: rigid .linkssupporting; the. top frame. from and. above the floor and-pivotally connected at their respective ends to the top framerand :fioor whereby to .permit.'the:top frame to swing relativeuto. each other and to the floor intozcollapsedypositionin responsev to the last namedmovement: of the top frame.

6. A utility cart comprising: asipair of :Jpar'allel diagonally upwardly .zdisposed .iside bars, a U-shaped base bar secured at its closedzendxto :the; side; bars and ihavingyits-zsides disposed-idl- -vergently therefrom; wheelsmountedonitheibottom ends of the side bars and on thebaseframe, a normally 1 substantially rhorizontally :dispcsed floor pivoted between its ends:to.zthe;side bars between the: ends' of the latter whereby to. be swingable into position substantially parallel with said bars, a. substantially horizontally; disposed top frame slideably connected adjacent oneof-its endsto the 'upperzend portionsbf the side bars, rigid links supporting the top: "frame fromiand :above the" floor and pivotally: connected --at their: respective :ends-v to the top frame :zand floor whereby to "permit: the. top: frame to swing :relative: to the: floor: into position 1- substantially .parallel with the: side 'barspandwside. and ,end i wallsyswinga'bly suspended from thettop frame. -7.. A utility cart-comprising a pair of diagonal- =-ly-upwardly disposed-sidebars,- .a;base framesecured to the sidebars-wheels supporting theside -b'arsand base 1 frame, a normally substantially horizontally disposed floor pivoted between its ends to the side bars between-the ends -of the -;latter. whereby'to be. swingable into carticoliapsping position -a substantially horizontally disposed top frame slideably connected adjacent one of its ends to the upper end portions of the side bars, links supporting the top frame from and above the floor and pivotally connected at their respective ends to the floor and top frame whereby to permit the top frame to swing relative to the floor into cart collapsing position, and side and end walls swingably suspended from the top frame.

8. A utility cart comprising a pair of diagonally upwardly disposed side bars, a base frame secured to the side bars, wheels supporting the side bars and base frame, a normally substantially horizontally disposed floor pivoted between its ends to the side bars between the ends of the latter whereby to be swingable into cart collapsing position, a substantially horizontally disposed top frame slideably connect-ed adjacent one of its ends to the upper end portions of the side bars, links supporting the top frame from and above the floor and pivotally connected at their respective ends to the floor and top frame whereby to permit the top frame to swing relative to the floor into cart collapsing position, and side and end walls swingably suspended from the top frame, one of said end walls normally fitting between the side walls when the cart is not collapsed and being manually swingable out of said position to permit collapsing.

9. A utility cart comprising a pair of diagonalends to the side bars between the ends of the latter whereby to be swingable into cart collapsing position, a substantially horizontally disposed rectangular top frame slideably connected adjacent one of its ends to the upper end portions of the side bars, links supporting the top frame from and above the floor and pivotally connected at their respective ends to the floor and top frame whereby to permit the top frame to swing relative to the floor into cart collapsing position, a pair of side walls pivoted along their top edges to the sides of the top frame to swing upwardly relative to each other, an end wall pivotally secured to one of the ends of the top frame and having its bottom edge engageable with and slideable along the floor during movement :of the top frame into said collapsed position, the other of said end walls being pivotally secured along its top edge to the other end portion of the top frame, said last named side wall normally fitting between the side walls and being manually swingable upwardly from said position to permit said side walls to swing upwardly toward each other.

10. A utility cart comprising a pair of diagonally upwardly disposed side bars, a base frame secured to the side bars, wheels supporting the side bars and base frame, a normally substantially horizontally disposed floor pivoted between its ends to the side bars between the ends of the latter whereby to be swingable into cart collapsing position, a substantially horizontally disposed rectangular top frame slideably connected adja-,

cent one of its ends to the upper end portions of the side bars, links supporting the top frame from and above the floor and pivotally connected at their respective ends to the floor and top frame whereby to permit the top frame to swing relative to the floor into cart collapsing position, a pair of side walls pivoted along their top edges to the sides of the top frame to swing upwardly relative to each other, an end wall pivotally secured to one of the ends of the top frame and having its bottom edge engageable with and slideable along the floor during movement of the top frame into said collapsed position, the other of said end walls being pivotally secured along its top edge to the other end portion of the top frame, said last named side wall normally fitting between the side walls and being manually swingable upwardly from said position to permit said side walls to swing upwardly toward each other, and means connecting the side walls to the last named end wall whereby to cause the side walls to commence their said swinging movement in response to said swinging movement of the last named end wall.

11. A utility cart comprising a pair of diagonally upwardly disposed side bars, a base frame secured to the side bars, wheels supporting the side bars and base frame, a normally substantially horizontally disposed floor pivoted between its ends to the side bars between the ends of the latter whereby to be swingable into cart collapsing position, a substantially horizontally disposed rectangular top frame slideably connected adjacent one of its ends to the upper end portions of the side bars, links supporting the top frame from and above the floor and pivotally connected at their respective ends to the floor and top frame whereby to permit the top frame to swing relative to the floor into cart collapsing position, a pair of side walls pivoted along their top edges to the sides of the top frame to swing upwardly relative to each other, an end wall pivotally secured to one of the ends of the top frame and having its bottom edge engageable with and slideable along the floor during movement of the top frame into said collapsed position, the other of said end walls being pivotally secured along its top edge to the other end portion of the top frame, said last named side wall normally fitting between the said walls and being manually swingable upwardly from said position to permit said side walls to swing upwardly toward each other, and means resiliently connecting the side walls to the last named end wall whereby to cause the side walls to commence their said swinging movement in response to said swinging movement 01 the last named end wall.

12. The device of claim 7 wherein the base frame is comprised of a U-shaped bar, the sides of which diverge toward their free ends whereby to permit of nesting of the base of one cart in the base of another like cart.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein one of the end walls is pivotally suspended from the top frame at opposite points spaced inwardly from the contiguous ends of the side walls.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the rear end wall is disposed forwardly from the rear end of the floor.

PAUL RUSNAK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,488,450 Underwood Nov. 15, 1949 2,498,935 Woods Feb. 28, 1950 

